Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland have welcomed the announcement of up to €23 million in government funding from the Department of An Taoiseach, under the Shared Island Fund.
Part of the ‘Shared Destination Project’, initiatives in Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark (Cavan, Fermanagh); Carlingford Lough (Louth, Down); and Sliabh Beagh (Monaghan, Tyrone, Fermanagh) will each receive funding for the development of cross-border trails, enhanced amenities and wayfinding and interpretation to improve the visitor experience and encourage more domestic and international visitors to explore these regions, driving economic benefits for the local communities.
“This significant investment in tourism development will help us to further unlock the untapped tourism potential in the border region, building on the substantial collaboration that we have undertaken with our partners in the Local Authorities, Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland to sustainably develop tourism in the area," said Paul Kelly, CEO at Fáilte Ireland.
"I look forward to working closely with our partners to realise these exciting plans which will strengthen the offering in both the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East regions by enhancing the area for domestic and international visitors, while also delivering benefits for the local community through improved infrastructure and by creating new opportunities for employment.”
These projects will be overseen, developed and delivered by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Local Authorities in Cavan, Fermanagh, Louth, Down, Monaghan, and Tyrone. An additional funding allocation will go to Tourism Ireland to market these projects and areas overseas, to encourage valuable international visitors to the region.
“The Shared Island initiative delivers significant funding to strengthen cross-border links, and these tourism projects will drive significant economic and social benefits to communities right across the region through the development of trails and the improvement of amenities," said Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke.
"Tourism is a proven economic engine, and this major investment will support new business and employment opportunities and will build on the existing collaboration of Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland in developing and marketing these regions.”
